Thrill Seekers 

Curator: Okay, next up we have Lucia Heffernan’s oil painting, “Thrill Seekers”. Editor: Whoa! First impression? Pure, unadulterated joy. Look at those dogs! It’s like someone bottled the feeling of a perfect summer day and smeared it on canvas. Curator: Heffernan is known for these whimsical scenarios with animals acting very human. This piece, with dogs on a roller coaster, it taps into that shared human experience of seeking exhilaration. Editor: Exactly! The way they're crammed into the roller coaster car, those ecstatic expressions, that one with its tongue hanging out – it’s totally relatable. And yet, it’s also brilliantly absurd. There's definitely some commentary here, perhaps about the performance of happiness? Curator: Perhaps. Animal paintings and portraits have a long history in Western art, often serving allegorical or satirical purposes. Think of Landseer, for instance. Heffernan’s approach is lighter, less biting, but she's playing with that tradition. She flips the script on the stoic animal portrait by plunking her canine subjects in an explicitly contemporary, very silly situation. Editor: Right, the staging of the painting in relation to popular entertainment adds another layer. The setting takes cues from modern-day, often commercially-driven joy rides. Plus, the perspective puts us right there with them, shrieking down the tracks. Did you notice how expertly the artist handled the light? Curator: The highlights on their fur, especially, add to the sense of frenetic energy. She balances detailed realism with a certain cartoonish quality. Editor: I keep coming back to that dog with the tongue. He’s all of us, isn't he? Just along for the ride, slightly overwhelmed but loving every second. Curator: Heffernan captures a kind of uninhibited pleasure. She reminds us to find joy in the unexpected. Editor: Well, after that dose of dopamine, I think I’m ready for the next piece! An upbeat commentary on a popular experience opens room for reflection about daily life in general. What an experience, thanks!